HC Deb 29 October 2003 vol 412 c299W
Mr. Nigel Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what action he is taking to prevent companies from trading without appropriate liability insurance; and if he will make a statement. [134233]

Mr. Browne

Although compliance levels remain high, all non-compliance is serious. Uninsured companies reduce the compensation available to their employees; transfer the cost of accidents to the taxpayer; and have an unlawful competitive advantage over their legitimate competitors.

The Department is taking a number of actions to re-inforce compliance in the second stage of its review of Employers' Liability Compulsory Insurance (ELCI). These include developing an enforcement database and issuing supplementary guidance on procurement in the public sector to make the confirmation of contractor and subcontractor compliance a more explicit part of the tendering process.

We will report in Autumn on the progress that has been made and any further steps we intend to take.

Mr. Nigel Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many(a) companies and (b) individuals have been prosecuted for trading without appropriate liability insurance in each of the last five years for which figures are available. [134234]

Mr. Browne

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is responsible for enforcing Employers' Liability Compulsory Insurance (ELCI).

Over the past five years HSE has prosecuted 18 individuals, 14 companies and 2 partnerships for trading without liability insurance. The breakdown for each operational year is as follows:

Individuals Companies Partnerships
1998–99 0 1 0
1999–2000 4 0 0
2000–01 4 0 0
2001–02 4 6 2
2002–03 5 4 0
Total 17 11 02 Grand Total = 30

For the period 1 April to 30 September 2003 the breakdown is as follows:

Individuals Companies Partnerships
1 3 0